Possibly the hottest of the ‘hot button’ issues facing American voters is an issue which should not be part of our political discussion; the right of a woman to obtain legal abortion. Abortion is a human rights issue. Pro-life groups would like the American people to believe that a woman’s decision to end an unwanted pregnancy is frivolous, and that some use abortion as a form of birth control. Nothing could be further from the truth.
If you talk to a woman who chose to end a pregnancy, she will inform you that it was the hardest decision of her life, and one which required enormous consideration. The reality is that the eventual decision should be hers and hers alone, not dictated by a government’s un-Constitutional law.
Abortion would not be of concern in political campaigns were it not for the right wing’s inclusion of Christianity into our government. The Christian religious right coerces Republicans to support its cause by promising their votes in upcoming elections.
I am an Independent agnostic. If I were a woman I would reject and resent the GOP. It seeks control over a woman’s body in direct violation of the Constitution, which guarantees individual freedom.
50 percent of Americans support a woman’s right to an abortion; 44 percent seek a ban on all abortions.
The only way to remove abortion from being a political tool, is to remove religion from our government. Christians must care for each other, and end their ambitions to influence the decisions of our legislators.
A misguided and ignorant group of conservatives are attempting to defund Planned Parenthood in their states. They claim that it is an abortion factory. They are simply proving that they know nothing about the organization, and are denying the rights of poor women in favor of the wealthy.
Planned Parenthood is first and foremost an agency which assists low-income and poor women with reproductive health. Since 1976, no federal funds have been used for abortions, with the exception of rape and incest. Without this agency, many women would be forced to take action themselves without the guidance of a medical professional.
Defunding Planned Parenthood would only harm lower income women; a wealthy woman could have an abortion whenever she chose.
It is of no consequence what your opinion is regarding legal abortions, unless you are a woman experiencing a pregnancy which forces you to consider its termination. This in fact is a difficult personal choice. Only the woman who finds herself questioning her health and future has the right to decide what actions to take which affect her own body.
The only reason Republicans claim to be anti-abortion is based on their claim to be Christian; and they only make that claim to receive votes. There are numerous instances when Republican politicians have obtained abortions for their wives, daughters, or worse, their mistresses.
There is no valid reason to include the discussion of abortion in American politics. The GOP was once a party which supported individual rights and freedoms. Today’s Republicans seek to control our personal lives and increase the size of government’s ability to rule over the American people.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
Photo Courtesy of Sarah Mirk
Read James Turnage at http://www.amazon.com/By-James-turnage/e/B00LOCJ2Z2
The Truth With No Restrictions 